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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Un Kannil Neer

From Vietnam Veedu · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Vietnam Veedu
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
12 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Un kannil neer
Vazhinthaal en nenjil
Uthiram kottuthadi } (2)
En kannil
Paavai andro
Kannamma enuyir
Ninnathandro…
Un kannil neer
Vazhinthaal en nenjil
Uthiram kottuthadi
{ Unnai karam
Pidithen vaazhkai
Olimayamaanathadi } (2)
Unnai mananthathanaal
Sabaiyil pugazhum valarnthathadi
Un kannil neer
Vazhinthaal en nenjil
Uthiram kottuthadi
Kaala sumaithaangi
Polae maarbil enai thaangi
Veezhum kanneer thudaipaai
Adhil en innal thaniyumadi
{ Aalam vizhuthugal pol
Uravu aayiram vanthum enna } (2)
Ver ena nee irunthaai adhil
Naan veezhnthu vidaathirunthen
Un kannil neer
Vazhinthaal en nenjil
Uthiram kottuthadi
Mullil padukaiyitu
Imaiyai moodavidathirukum
Pillai kulamadiyo ennai
Pethamai seithadhadi
{ Peruku pillai undu
Pesum pechuku sonthamundu } (2)
{ En thevaiyai yaar arivaar } (2)
Unnai pol deivam ondrae ariyum
Un kannil neer
Vazhinthaal en nenjil
Uthiram kottuthadi
En kannil
Paavai andro
Kannamma enuyir
Ninnathandro
Un kannil neer
Vazhinthaal en nenjil
{ If tears
flow from your eyes,
blood pours from my heart! } (2)
Aren't you the pupil
of my eye?
Kannamma, isn't my very life
yours alone?...
If tears
flow from your eyes,
blood pours from my heart!
{ I took your hand
in marriage, and my life
became full of light! } (2)
Because I married you,
my honour grew before the whole world!
If tears
flow from your eyes,
blood pours from my heart!
Like a resting stone for life's burdens,
you hold me against your chest,
wipe away my falling tears,
and soothe all my sorrow!
{ Like the hanging roots of a banyan tree,
what use are a thousand relatives? } (2)
You stood strong like the main root,
and kept me from falling down!
If tears
flow from your eyes,
blood pours from my heart!
Making a bed of thorns,
that keeps my eyes from closing in sleep,
is this the family of children
who have made a fool out of me?
{ I have children just in name,
and relatives only for empty talk! } (2)
{ Who understands what I truly need? } (2)
Only a living god like you truly knows!
If tears
flow from your eyes,
blood pours from my heart!
Aren't you the pupil
of my eye?
Kannamma, isn't my very life
yours alone?
If tears
flow from your eyes, my heart...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses deep love, devotion, and mutual reliance between a husband and wife in their golden years. The singer laments that even a single tear from his beloved's eyes causes intense physical and emotional pain in his heart, equivalent to bleeding. He reflects on how her entry into his life brought light and societal respect, and how she stood by him as a steadfast root while superficial relatives and ungrateful children failed to offer true comfort in times of adversity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uruvagaimai)

Un kannil neer vazhinthaal en nenjil uthiram kottuthadi

Exaggerating emotional sorrow to a physical degree by describing tears in the beloved's eyes as blood pouring from the speaker's heart.

Simile (Upamai)

Aalam vizhuthugal pol uravu aayiram vanthum enna / Ver ena nee irunthaai

Comparing relatives to banyan prop roots ('aalam vizhuthugal') and the wife to the solid taproot ('ver') that prevents him from collapsing.

Metaphor (Uruvagamb/Uruvam)

Kaala sumaithaangi polae maarbil enai thaangi

Comparing the wife to a rest-stop stone pillar ('kaala sumaithaangi') that absorbs his life burdens.

Emonai (Tamil Rhyme/Alliteration)

Peruku pillai undu / Pesum pechuku sonthamundu

Initial letter rhyming in Tamil poetic structure (e.g., Peruku / Pesum).

Did you know?

Trivia

Although featured in the movie 'Vietnam Veedu' (1970) starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini, the core lines 'Un Kannil Neer Vazhinthal' are adapted from the iconic poem 'Kannamma En Thayai' composed originally by the legendary revolutionary poet Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar.

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